Narcotics Ministry, IIUI vow to jointly combat menace of narcotics

• IIUI determined to make campus narcotics, smoking free: Rector University
• Akbar Durrani says there must be zero tolerance for drugs

By Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and the Ministry of Narcotics Control on Wednesday vowed to initiate a joint effort for curbing the menace of narcotics in addition to mutually cooperating for sensitizing, research, and dialogue in this regard.

This was discussed on the occasion of a visit of a delegation of Ministry of Narcotics Control Headed by the Federal Secretary Captain (retd) Akbar Hussain Durrani at the IIUI’s new Campus where it held a meeting with the IIUI Rector Dr. Masoom Yasinzai along with University Vice Presidents Dr. N.B. Jumani, Dr. Ayaz Afsar, provosts and Students Advisors of the University.

The ministry’s delegation was also joined by the Senior Joint Secretary Sabino Sikandar Jalal and Muhammad Riaz Haral Section Officer.

Both sides agreed on the occasion that University’s constituent units such as Iqbal Institute for Research and Dialogue, Islamic Research Institute, and Dawah Academy through their scholars and researchers can play a vital role in disseminating awareness with the support of Islamic teachings and constructive dialogue.

Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Akbar Hussain Durrani said that there must be zero tolerance for narcotics in the society and the same is being pursued by the ministry as Universities are being contacted and also being assured of cooperation and support for narcotics free campuses.

Akbar Hussain Durrani added that addicts need rehabilitation instead of hate. Society must discourage the drugs but there is also an equal responsibility to bring the addicts in the mainstream. He called upon the educational institutions to announce and convey in black and white as well that narcotics use and presence shall not be tolerated while he also suggested that parents must be taken on board and be contacted time and again to ensure that the youth are not involved in any such negative activity.

Dr. Masoom Yasinzai said on the occasion that the University has taken extraordinary steps for a narcotics and smoking free campus. He added that the University is also working to launch a special diploma for the drug psychologists to produce the human resource that may help in sensitization against the menace.

Dr. Masoom Yasinzai said that society’s eyes are focused on the Universities, it’s time to pay back, societal issues such as prevalence of narcotics must be addressed by researchers and experts of higher education. He assured of maximum support for research and dialogue in this regard as well as he also agreed that every single decision to curb the menace would be implemented in letter and spirit in the campuses of the University.